City Council Meeting Minutes--September 22, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STAUNTON CITY COUNCIL, HELD IN THE RALPH & JOSEPHINE OLTMANN COMMUNITY CENTER, 101 W. PEARL ST., STAUNTON, ILLINOIS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

            Mayor Craig Neuhaus called the Staunton City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 22, 2025.

II.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

            Mayor Craig Neuhaus led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

 III.      ROLL CALL:

            City Clerk Stiegemeier called roll with the following persons:

            ATTENDING:  Aldermen David Manning, Ben Frank, Kristy Berg, Ryan Machota,  Matthew McKee, Terry Tipler, Mayor Craig Neuhaus, City Clerk Dennis Stiegemeier, City Treasurer Cindy Pirok, City Attorney Phil Lading, Public Works Director Mike Kuethe and Police Chief Jeff Doerr.

            NOT ATTENDING:  Alderman Anthony Bagaglio.

   IV.    CONSENT AGENDA

Manning moved, seconded by McKee to approve Consent Agenda with the following items:

Minutes 

           Regular Meeting – 09/08/2025

           Special Meeting – 09/15/2025

Collector’s Report

                                Staunton Police Department (Reports)--$20.00

                                Staunton Police Department (Ordinance Violations)--$100.00

                                Ameren Illinois (Utility Tax)--$22,462.18

                                Southwestern Electric (Utility Tax)--$1,225.59

                                State of Illinois (Sales Tax)--$82,763.80

                                State of Illinois (Business District Tax)--$33,032.12

                                State of Illinois (Video Gaming Tax)--$12,717.79

                                State of Illinois (Cannabis Use Tax)--$635.29

                                State of Illinois (State Use Tax)--$4,556.54

                                State of Illinois (Telecommunications Tax)--$3,820.53

                                State of Illinois (Income Tax)--$45,003.22

                                State of Illinois (#7 Mine Ln. / Herman Rd. Water Grant)--$35,071.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Fine Disbursement)--$552.48

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Arrest Agency Fee)--$213.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (E-Citation Fee)--$12.00

                                Macoupin County Circuit Clerk (Police Vehcile Fund)--$.50

                                Staunton Streetfest (Beer Sales / Streetfest)--$2,678.00

                                Jules Bartony Memorials (For Duda Garden)--$1,965.00

Applications

Michael Pirok (Public Works Department)

            Claims

                         September 22, 2025

            Business Licenses Issued

                         Meyer Oil Co. d/b/a Mach 1

                         DHAJA Properties, LLC

                         Meyer Oil Co. d/b/a Mach 1 Gaming (Class A Liquor License)

                         Meyer Oil Co. d.b.a Mach 1 (Class B Liquor License)

            Roll Call Vote

            AYES:  Frank, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.

            NAYS:   None.

            ABSENT:  Bagaglio.

            Motion declared carried.

V.        GUESTS

            Josephine Bischan addressed the Council regarding the over grown drainage area on the east side of the railroad tracks going north from Henry Street and finally draining in the creek.  Public Works Director Kuethe will be addressing the situation and will also be in contact with the railroad regarding the issues.  Ms. Bischan told Mayor Neuhaus that she felt has done more for the City than any other previous mayors have done.

VI.      CORRESPONDENCE

Received an email from the Staunton Lions Club regarding the upcoming Halloween  Parade.  Plans are to have the parade on Thursday, October 30^th at 6:00 P.M.  The parade will begin at the City Hall complex and proceed east on Main Street to Laurel Street and then south on  Laurel Street to Henry Street, ending at the VFW Hall.  They are asking the Staunton Police Department to secure the parade route.

VII.     TREASURER’S REPORT

Certificate of Deposit recently purchased at Bank of Hillsboro for 7 months at 4.05%:

TIF 2 Fund (Interstate TIF)--$50,000.00

VIII.   CITY CLERK’S REPORT

            Nothing to report.

IX.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY  -

Motion by Frank, seconded by Manning to approve Estimate #10451 from Advanced Communications for Storm Siren Antenna replacement in the amount of 3,312.50.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

            PARK & CIVIC IMPROVEMENT –

Motion by Berg, seconded by Tipler to pay Invoice #938413 from Sandberg Phoenix for Professional Services Rendered regarding condemnation proceedings at 339 East Main Street in the amount of $1,024.44.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

FINANCE–

Nothing to report.

WATER-.

Nothing to report.

STREET / SEWER

Nothing to report.

            PUBLIC GROUNDS-

            Nothing to report.

            TOURISM –

Nothing to report.

            PERSONNEL –

Nothing to report.

            ANNEXATION –

            Nothing to report.

            SPECIAL COMMITTEES –

                        Economic TIF

Motion by Tipler, seconded by Manning to reimburse Poonam Jain 54% of the completed expenses as outlined in the TIF Redevelopment Agreement, for a total of $16,331.63 (75% of $21,775.50).  This amount exceeds 50% of the total costs incurred as of this time.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

            JUDICIARY—

Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to approve Ordinance #2311 Granting A Zoning Variance For Real Property Located At 912 West Henry Street, Staunton, Illinois.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  McKee, Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Frank, seconded by Tipler to approve Resolution #2025-27 A Resolution Of Support Of The Illinois Safe Routes To School Program.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Tipler, Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, McKee.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

Motion by Frank, seconded by McKee to approve Resolution #2025-28 A Resolution Committing Local Funds For The Illinois Safe Routes To School Application.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Manning, Frank, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.  Motion carried. 

X.       UNFINISHED BUSINESS—

      Nothing to report.

XI.      NEW BUSINESS-

            Alderman Tipler reported that the North Street Bridge Replacement Project will begin

            on Wednesday, September 24^th. 

XII.    EXECUTIVE SESSION—

      No Executive Session was held.

XIII.  MOTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION –

.          

           No motions were made from Executive Session.

XIV.   ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to discuss, Councilmember Manning, seconded by Councilmember McKee to adjourn at 7:13 P.M.  At Roll Call Vote – Ayes:  Frank, Berg, Machota, McKee, Tipler, Manning.  Nayes:  None.  Absent:  Bagaglio.    Motion carried. 

                                                                        Prepared by:

                                                                        Dennis K. Stiegemeier, City Clerk